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"A treasure right here": Fort Bayard celebrates its 147th birthday

By Benjamin Fisher

bfisher@scsun-news.com on Twitter @SCSunNews

Posted:
08/24/2013 06:21:52 PM MDT

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Benjamin Fisher - Silver City Sun-News
President of the Fort Bayard Preservation Society, Cecilia Bell, guided a group through the Fort Bayard museum at the fort's 146th birthday celebration on Saturday.

SILVER CITY >> Fort Bayard celebrated its 147th birthday on Saturday with tours, a book signing, and even cake.

The day began with guided tours through the historical buildings and grounds of the fort, which included during its active years, nearly every amenity found in a municipality. Cecilia Bell, president of the Fort Bayard Historic Preservation Society, happily told visitors on the tour that, in fact, Fort Bayard used to be even bigger than Silver City.

Bell lights up when she comes to these little points of interest and its clear how much Fort Bayard really means to her. Bell grew up in Nebraska between two historical forts and has adopted the preservation and celebration of the one here as her personal mission. A big part of that, she said, is spreading awareness of the fort's rich historical significance and beauty through events like the birthday celebration.

"We have had three people today who live in Silver and this is still the first time they've ever come out," Bell said. "Silver City needs to come out and get to know the treasure we have right here. If you're a hiker or a biker, or whatever you like, come out and take a look. There's lots to do other than just the history."

Celebrations like this and the upcoming Fort Bayard Days area especially important right now because the state is looking for a buyer for the 200 acre historical sight.

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Because it is a National Historic Landmark, there is quite a bit of red tape a potential buyer would have to climb through, so no one has gone as far as making an offer yet. For instance, under the Historic Landmark protection, the exterior of everything on the property would have to be kept as it was when it was designated as a landmark. The state has also insisted so far that it be sold in one piece.

Bell and her partners in the Preservation Society are really hoping that, instead, the fort will be made into a state or national park.

"We're hoping that if we can get more and more interest in the Buffalo Soldiers who fought here or the fort's involvement with the Apache that the federal government will come in," she said.

So, while other society members gave tours of the ground on the sunny Saturday, Bell gave tours of the museum itself, in one of the historic officers homes lining the main street through the fort. This isn't a stuffy, hands-off museum tour, though. Bell teases kids who come through and encourages them to wring the bell in the old schoolroom. The groups laughed as she mimed breaking the top off of an antique bottle the way she imagines old soldiers would do.

"I get so irritated when museums say 'no touching'," she said. "We don't do that so much here. You learn by touching, and feeling, and smelling and tasting. That's how we remember things. That's why we have Fort Bayard Days. So kids can really experience what life was really like."

Outside in the shade, Dr. Twana Sparks signed copies of her book, "Ping Pong Balls and Donkey's Milk: A History of Tuberculosis in Fort Bayard, New Mexico," about the treatment of tuberculosis at Fort Bayard as told by the patients she interviewed - including one of her relatives from the time.

Stories like this are woven throughout Fort Bayard.

"That's why I do this," Bell said. "We need to save these stories."

Fort Bayard Days are on Sept. 20 and Sept. 21 and include historical re-enactments, a performance by a regimental military band, extensive tours, and even a couple of games of vintage baseball.